With a new year on the horizon, we thought it would be good to look ahead to the 7 big web design trends we think you will need to watch for in 2020. Web design has always been a way to make your brand stand out from the crowd and now, more than ever; brands are looking for innovative web design trends to make sure they are at the top of the pack. Here are the 7 we think will be the biggest of next year.
1. Illustrations
Studies show that humans process illustrations approximately 60,000 times faster than words. This means that designing websites using illustrations has become a popular way to get your message across to your user effectively. Designs with simple illustrations are easier on the eye than text because users can get tired scrolling through line after line of text. Designing websites using illustrations is definitely becoming more common in the online community.
Hotjar’s website is a good example of how designing a website using illustrations can reduce the workload on the user’s eyes and get your message across quicker than possible with text. The combination of ‘understand your users’ and the illustration to the right means that the user is almost immediately aware of the service they are offering. This design showcases a great way to begin the onboarding process.
2. Big Typography
Brands with a bold message love designing websites with big typography. Using big typography is a great way to emphasise that message. Loud and bold fonts are excellent to take up big parts of the screen with important details. They’re usually the first thing visitors see, so making the most of this valuable real estate can increase your conversion rate.
Shepper’s design is a brilliant example of big typography being used to its full potential. They try to catch the attention of the user as soon as the page loads. Their message is simple, yet effective, and their design uses bold font to emphasise it. This design showcases an effective way to hook potential customers.
3. Serif Fonts
Many designers have stayed away from Serif fonts in the last few years. However, despite seeming too old-fashioned, serif fonts have been making a comeback lately. Using a combination of serif fonts for headings and sans-serif fonts for body text brings a unique touch to a brand and makes it stand out from the normal sans-serif websites. So lately, brands that wish to go for a more traditional look have been experimenting.
The Mailchimp design is one of the more well-known examples of this web design trend. The traditional font, coupled with the modern yellow, is unique, yet effective and makes Mailchimp stand out from the monochrome crowd.
4. Micro-animations
Designs that have micro-animations are great at interacting with the user. They provide a more immersive experience and often reduce the bounce rate, as the user has more to do. They can be a brilliant way to make a site stand out. Although they may be a little harder to design than static images, they can make your site unique.
Honey’s website is a prime example of this design trend being used in the right way. One of the animations shows the process that a user would go through whilst using their extension. This is an excellent way to get more users onboard.
5. Videos
If a picture tells a thousand words, then think how many words a video tells. Designing websites using videos is becoming a popular way to showcase your brand, your product, or whatever you are selling. They’re a visual way to show users what you are all about.
The Cliffs have a great video to capture the attention of their potential customer as soon as they land on the site. This is a brilliant way to generate leads, as they haven’t even read the text before they are hooked on the site.
6. Off-grid Layouts
To stand out from the crowd, web designers are resorting to less traditional layouts. An example of this is the off-grid layout. They aim to catch the user’s attention because of their unique design. They can be a trendy choice for an exciting and innovative business that is a little different from their competitors. It should be noted that off-grid sites usually work best for sites with lots of images, as off-grid sites with too much text can become confusing.
As soon as the viewer opens the Lane and Associates website, they immediately know that this business is different from the rest. The layout and micro-animations grab the attention of potential customers.
7. Vibrant Gradients
There’s no better way to shout about your brand than using a bright colour pallet. Gradients are increasing in popularity as brands look to become unique than their competitors. A colour scheme that uses two similar colours and creates a smooth transition between them that’s easy on the eye is usually a great choice. Try not to pick two colours that are two dissimilar though, as it could start to look like the rainbow gradient from WordArt in 2010!
This example from Spotify showcases the growing trend and how it can benefit the identity of the brand. The vibrant tone goes well with their modern product and isn’t too awkward on the eye.
